Keraia
Luke 7

Luke 7:32

Jesus Testifies about John · Luke 7:24–35
Read Luke 7

Translations

Modern
They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’
Traditional
They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
Literal
They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’
Latin
Similes sunt pueris sedentibus in foro, et loquentibus ad invicem, et dicentibus: Cantavimus vobis tibiis, et non saltastis: lamentavimus, et non plorastis.

Original

Greek
English
They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’

Notes

Luke 7:31–35

To what, then, can I compare the men of this generation?: Jesus compares Israel to fickle children in the marketplace who play games of make-believe. They called John the Baptist to dance (a wedding game), but the serious prophet refused. Instead, he called them to mourn and repent of their sins.

Then they called on Jesus to mourn (a funeral game), but he was the bridegroom who announced the joyful celebration banquet of the kingdom of God. It would not have been appropriate for him to mourn (compare Mark 2:19–20).

Theme notes and profiles

John the Baptist

Events

Parallels

Malachi 3:1–5 Matthew 11:7–19

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Jesus Christ Luke, Gospel of Market, Marketplace Music Prophecy

Topics

Children: Amusements of Jesus, the Christ: Receives the Message from John the Baptist (In Galilee) Jesus, the Christ: Rejected John: Jesus Discourses Upon Unbelief: General Scriptures Concerning